UK

Residents say tensions are rising as evacuation of towers continues

Residents leave the Taplow tower block on the Chalcots Estate in Camden, London on Friday. Picture by Stefan Rousseau, Press Association
Residents leave the Taplow tower block on the Chalcots Estate in Camden, London on Friday. Picture by Stefan Rousseau, Press Association Residents leave the Taplow tower block on the Chalcots Estate in Camden, London on Friday. Picture by Stefan Rousseau, Press Association

Residents yet to be evacuated from four tower blocks have claimed they are being intimidated by security guards, and that tensions are rising, as the operation to clear the buildings continues.

Thousands of tenants from more than 600 flats in Taplow, Dorney, Bray and Burnham towers in Camden were evacuated on Friday after firefighters said they could not guarantee the safety of the buildings, council leader Georgia Gould said.

The towers have been found to be covered with the same type of cladding as used at Grenfell, five miles to the south west, where at least 79 people died in the June 14 tragedy.

On top of internal issues surrounding gas pipes, insulation and fire doors, combined with the flammable panelling, the building has been declared unsafe by the fire service.

Around 20 households are yet to vacate their homes, with tenant Mandy Ryan claiming a security guard tried to intimidate her as she took her dogs for a walk on Sunday.

Ms Ryan, who shares her 22nd-floor flat in Dorney with her son, said the whole experience of the evacuation so far was "disruptive" and said she has encountered problems.

"I was bullied this morning trying to leave the building, he (the security guard) stood in front of the door and guys surrounded him and he said 'we need to know who you are'," she told the Press Association.

She said she was told by the man, who she has not seen before, that she could not take her animals outside.

Using a different building exit, Ms Ryan added: "I was so scared, he got so close to me - I could feel his breath on my face.

"We are not the villains here, we are the victims. We are not trying to impede any work whatsoever, we just want suitable accommodation.

"We are all scared, we are disrupted, we don't know how we are going to cope, cook, wash or anything at the moment."

Ms Ryan said that along with her son, who has disabilities, they were sent to a property in Haringey on Saturday afternoon, but that it was in a complete state of disrepair when they arrived.

She said: "When I entered through the door I could see wires hanging out the fuse box, there was broken glass in the front door, there was an unsafe window, a broken boiler in the kitchen and a dirty, filthy, faulty cooker.

"I thought it was some sort of joke, I was just appalled.

"When I was offered three bedrooms I thought it was fantastic, but I would rather have slept in the garages downstairs, I feared for my safety."

Ms Ryan said she has now been offered two rooms at a nearby hotel, which will also allow them to take their two dogs.

Sayed Meah, 34, who has lived in Burnham since he was born, said he is yet to leave his eighth-floor flat.

Mr Meah provides 24-hour care for his 78-year-old mother, who has had a stroke, with his wife.

He was offered accommodation late on Saturday night, but said he will not accept it until the care company, which helps them, agrees to working at the new location.

Describing the feeling amongst other residents refusing to leave, he said they are "fighting on", and telling each they will not be going until a legal notice is obtained or they are "dragged out by their fingernails".

Asked whether he has had problems getting in and out of his building, Mr Meah said Saturday evening proved difficult, adding: "After 10 o'clock they were saying no-one is allowed in.

"People were kicking the doors, one gentleman broke the glass and cracked it. Other residents had to call the police, saying they were being refused access to their own homes."

Mr Meah said it was security guards and the fire services who were preventing people entering the high-rise, that he "talked his way in" and was told to "sneak around" to get inside by one of the officials.

"There was one lady crying in the foyer of the lift, and today they are letting people in and out with a register, I mean what is going on?" he said.

The council has said it could take two to four weeks for the four blocks to be made safe.

Refurbishment of the Chalcots Estate was overseen by Rydon, the company involved in the refit of Grenfell Tower, according to the Rydon website.

In a statement Ms Gould said the council and London Fire Brigade "advise in the strongest possible terms" that residents should evacuate and take up a temporary accommodation option.

She said there are "various legal routes" the council can explore to require people to leave, and stressed they need to get the buildings empty so the corrective work can commence.

Rebecca Cody, 52, and Adam Booth, 47, live in Burnham, which she bought in 2004 and, as a leaseholder, paid £15,000 towards the cladding and refurbishment when it was undertaken.

She said: "I'm furious because I've been sold a death trap, but I'm really upset because it took at least 100 people to burn to death, before action would be taken."

The couple told the Press Association that white stickers with information on whether the flat is occupied and how many people remain in there have been stuck to the doors of the flats.

When asked about the security in the building, Mr Booth said: "As soon as they come out of the lift they are waiting for you - asking who you are, which floor and number, where you are going."

The couple have been waiting for a suitable property before they leave the flat with their dog, and said they do not think it is unreasonable to have accommodation arranged before they vacate their home.